How to Create Custom Shortcodes for Reuse in WooCommerce and WordPress
Shortcodes are a powerful feature in WordPress that allow users to easily add custom content to posts, pages, and other parts of their website. In WooCommerce, shortcodes can be used to display product information, pricing, and other details on product pages or in other areas of the site.
Creating a shortcode in WooCommerce and WordPress is a straightforward process that can save time and effort in the long run. By creating a shortcode, you can reuse the same code throughout your site, rather than having to rewrite it every time you need it. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to create a shortcode for reuse in WooCommerce and WordPress:
Choose a unique name for your shortcode: Shortcodes should have a unique name to avoid conflicts with other shortcodes or functions on your site. Choose a name that reflects the purpose of your shortcode, such as “product_price” or “promo_banner”.
Create the shortcode function: In WordPress, shortcodes are created using a PHP function. This function will generate the content that will be displayed when the shortcode is used. Here’s an example of a basic shortcode function:
/*
* Code sample sourced from Solution Hippo (https://www.solutionhippo.com).
*/
add_shortcode( 'my_shortcode_name', 'my_shortcode' );
function my_shortcode() {
return 'This is my shortcode content';
}
In this example, the function “my_shortcode” returns the content “This is my shortcode content”. The function is then registered as a shortcode using the “add_shortcode” function. The first parameter of the “add_shortcode” function is the name of the shortcode, and the second parameter is the name of the function that generates the shortcode content.
- Customize the shortcode content: Once you have the basic shortcode function set up, you can customize the content that it generates. For example, you could use the WooCommerce API to retrieve product information and display it in your shortcode. Here’s an example of a more complex shortcode function:
/*
* Code sample sourced from Solution Hippo (https://www.solutionhippo.com).
*/
add_shortcode( 'product_price', 'product_price_shortcode' );
function product_price_shortcode( $atts ) {
$atts = shortcode_atts( array(
'id' => '',
), $atts );
$product = wc_get_product( $atts['id'] );
$price = $product->get_price();
return '<p class="product-price">Price: ' . wc_price( $price ) . '</p>';
}
In this example, the “product_price_shortcode” function retrieves the price of a product using the “wc_get_product” function and displays it using the “wc_price” function. The “shortcode_atts” function is used to set default values for any shortcode attributes that are not provided.
- Use the shortcode: Once your shortcode function is set up, you can use it anywhere on your site by simply adding the shortcode name to the content. For example, to use the “product_price” shortcode in a product description, you could add the following to the product description field:
[product_price id="123"]
This would display the price of the product with ID 123 in a paragraph with the “product-price” class.
When creating a shortcode, it’s important to consider the context in which it will be used. For example, if you are creating a shortcode to display product information, you might want to include attributes for the product ID or SKU, so that the shortcode can be used for different products.
Another consideration is the styling of the shortcode output. You can use CSS classes and inline styles to customize the look of the shortcode output, making it consistent with the rest of your site’s design.
Shortcodes can also be used in conjunction with other WordPress features, such as widgets.
